Panaji: The 17th century Alorna fort on the scenic banks of the Chapora river will soon get a much-needed makeover as the directorate of archives and archaeology (DAA) is planning to issue work orders shortly for its restoration.The last conservation effort more than a decade ago had provided a new lease of life to the only other surviving fort in Pernem taluka after Tiracol, but decay set in slowly due to lack of periodic maintenance. The ravages of every monsoon season impacted the structure and parts of it collapsed with post-monsoon vegetation further accelerating the decay."The work order for the project which is estimated to cost Rs 64 lakh will be issued shortly," said a DAA official on Friday.The small but quaint fort, as seen from the river's southern banks in Mencurem, a village in Bicholim taluka, still forms a part of the panoramic view of the peaceful landscape. The fort is hardly 10 km east off NH 17, but it lies almost shrouded in a green curtain of a still pristine village. Alorna is a sleepy village with hardly any trace of other archaeological evidence, besides the fort.The fort with a polygonal enclosure and rampart walls of laterite stone has a walkway and parapet. In the corners, it is widened into bastions. The remains of a chapel within are hidden under the bushes. A small house can be seen but its purpose is unknown. The moat around the fort still exists on the eastern and northern side. The decay had been worrying heritage lovers and local residents. Alorna panchayat has been petitioning the government to restore the fort. Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had assured the Goa assembly in August 2013 of a conservation project to restore it. A project was mooted more than a year ago, but got entangled in the code of conduct for the assembly and panchayat polls, said sources.The archives and archaeology department itself has witnessed a slow decay with no fresh drafting in of manpower with technical expertise till recently.Slowly, conservation work and post-monsoon clean up of 51 monuments under its charge is being taken up."We are happy that its conservation will be taken up," said Prajal Sakhardande, president, Goa heritage action group (GHAG), adding that the conservation should be followed by regular upkeep and maintenance.

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